Lamp fixture



March 6, 1934. R, w; BARLOW Er AL 1,950,130

LAMP FIXTURE Filed Feb. 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN TOE5 ,QoL/WD //1/. AELOW l0/YE Y G. HOFFMAN.

/TTO/QNEY Patented lWar. 6, 1934 LAMP FIXTURE Roland W. Barlow, Chicago, and Sidney G. Hoffman, Park Ridge, Ill., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-third to said Barlow and two-thirds to said Hoffman Application February 1I, 1932, Serial No. 592,214

1 Claim. (01.'240-81) Our invention relates to an improved conly polished surface of material adapted to efstruction of lamp fixture by which electric lamps fectively reflect rays of light striking it, and With may be effectively utilized for illuminating purthe smallest possible absorption of said rays, for poses, without the possibility of glare and with example a lhighly polished metal surface such as silver, nickel or alloy, a highly polished glass 6dl tributed practically uniformly over the areas ilsurface, or a silvered or mercury coated glass c011- luminated.

struction of the kind usually found in mirrors.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a While different materials may be used for the container which is preferably opaque, for the lamp diffusing member, we find that smooth surfaced 7') bulb or bulbs employed, the container being so aluminum is admirably adapted for the purposex 65;

proportioned that the bulb or bulbs cannot be particularly where the surface is givenane grain seen from the outside of the container. Around or a satin finish in any suitable manner, for exthe bulb or bulbs in the container, we provide ample by grinding with very fine grinding coma reiiecto-r of such shape and proportions as to pound, or by etching the surface with a suitable project substantially all of the light rays from chemical. One advantage of this particular kind 70` the bulb or bulbs, upwardly and from the open of a diifusing member is that it has no tendency upper end of the container, so that substantially to color rays reected from it, but on the other all of the light emitted by the bulb or bulbs, and hand, where the rays striking it are practically regardless of the directions in which the light rays 0f White light, the leYS refeCted flOm the rays may be projected from the bulb or bulbs diffusing member are as far as can be determined, 7gv

and from the reflector, is projected upwardly from Of the Same C0101', the efeCt Of the dllshg the container, for use in securing the desired i1- member being to make the rays reected from lumination. Above the container, and extendit appear to be white rays, rather than affecting ing transversely of the axis of the container, we them in any other Way.

dispose a diifusing member, to receive upon its Our invention Will beSt be undelStOOd by ef- 80` lower surface all of the light delivered upwardly erence to the accompanying drawings, which are from the container. The material of the diifusillustrative and show preferred embodiments ing member is preferably selected with a View thereof, in Which to reducing to a minimum, light absorption by Fg- 1 ShOWS a form 0f desk 0I' teble lamp in the light diffusing member and its surface is of side elevation, 35 a nature to reect and diffuse light rays projected Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of the parts against it, so that desired areas will be llumishown in Fig. 1, to an enlarged scale, taken along nated. The diifusing member mounted in a supporting shade, pearance, and partly to protect the ber andY impart stability to it, th of the shade being preferably co a person using the lamp ixture, under surface of the diffusing m i0 structing the dilfusing member, the upper end of the container, determined by the nature of the sired. Furthermore, the diiusi be given any one of a Wide vari pending upon the nature of illu is preferably the line 2 2, g

partly for ap- Fig. 3 shows in a View similar to Fig. 2, a modidiffusing memiied form of shade and means for supporting it, 90 e edge portion as well as a modied form of lamp bulb container nformed so that and support,

will not see the Fig. 4 shows in side elevation a Wall fixture ember. In coninvolving our invention, its spacing from Fig. 5 shows in side elevation a form of floor 95 and its size are lamp` involving our invention, and

illumination de- Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive show in diagrammatic, ng member may vertical, central, sectional views, through the ety of forms, debulb container, diffusing member and shade in mination required each case, different forms of renectors and diifus- 10o in any particular case, and whether it is desired ing members that may be employed to meet the to have intense illumination over a small area, requirements of different cases. or relatively less intense illumination over a larg- Similar numerals refer to similar parte er area, some forms of the deflecting member throughout the several views.

serving to concentrate the rays reected and dif- As shown in Fig. 1, the form of desk or table 105 fused from it, while other conformations of the lamp illustrated, consists of abase 10, which prefdeeethg member SelVe t0 Spread the IeYS reerably is hollow and may be made of any desired iiected and diffused from it. We find that the material, on one portion of which a tubular conreflector Should preferably have eS perfect a I'etainer 11 is supported with its axis in vertical ectina surface as possible, that iS to Say, a highposition. Another portion of the base 1o sup- 110 ports a vertical column 12 which carries at its upper end, a horizontally extending arm 13 from which a shade 14 of conical 'form is suspended centrally over the upper end of the container 11. The base 10 is provided with an electric cord 15 and plug 16 for connecting the desk or table lamp with a suitable source of electric current in the usual manner. The base 10 is also preferably provided with a switch 17 for lighting and extinguishing the lamp as desired.

As shown in Fig. 2, the container 11 has mounted in it near its upper end, a reflector 18 varound a lamp bulb 19 supported in vertical position by a pipe 20 which in turn is rigidly supported in vertical position by the base 10. The reflector 18 is preferably of a form which in vertical cross section as illustrated in Fig. 2, is parabolic, to the end that rays of light emitted in all directions from the bulb 19 upon the reflector, may be reflected and directed by the reiiector 18 upwardly and from the open upper end of the container Y11, the reflector 18 preferably extending somewhat above the upper end of the bulb 19 as illustrated, to insure as complete reflection of the light from the bulb 19 as possible. The upper edge of the reflector 13 is preferably disposed somewhat below the upper end of the container 11, to prevent an observer seeing the reector or the bulb when the shade 14 is the position indicated. 1f desired, the lower portion of the reilector 18 around the shank of the bulb 19, may be somewhat larger than said shank, to permit a small amount of light projected downwardly from the lamp bulb as shown at 21, 21, to mildly illuminate a decorative band 11a of translucent material, which may be used as a part of the wall of the container 11 is desired, but the illumination of this band 11e is preferably for decorative purposes only and has little to do with the effectiveness of the illumination provided for by our construction.

As shown in Fig. 2, the shade 14 supports a diffusing member 22 in substantially horizontal position over the upper open end of the container 11 and at a sufficient distance from said upper end, to permit light rays projected upwardly from the bulb 19 and from the reflector 18, to effectively illuminate the lower surface of the diffusing member, the diameter of the diffusing member 22 being sufciently greater than the diameter of the container 1l, so that the light reflected and diffused downwardly from the diffu-sing member 22, will effectively illuminate the table or desk on which the lamp is supported. The diffusing member 22 illustrated in Fig. 2 is a flat circular member, preferably of material which absorbs little if any, of the light projected against it, the tendency of this material being to reflect the light which strikes it. The lower surface of the member 22' is preferably finely grained either by grinding the surface with very ne grinding material, or by etching the lsurface with suitable acid or chemical, to the end that the surface shall have a satin finish, interfering little with reflecting the light rays striking it and yet insuring that beams of light striking the diffusing member, will be sufficiently diffused upon leaving the reflecting surface of the member 22, to effect uniform illumination or the areas lighted by the rays reflected from the diffusing member 22. We find that aluminum is an excellent material for the diffusing member 22, since it may be given a smoothrsurface which may readily be finely grained as referred to. We also find that the diffusing member may effectively be made of sheet glass provided with a mercury coating on its upper surface and iinely grained on its lower surface, either by means of fine grinding compound or by being etched with suitable acid.

With tie construction described, it will appear that the bulb used may be of the kind commonly used for house lighting, that is, a bulb having a tungsten filament and a frosted surface and emitting practically pure white light, and with such a bulb of the wattage ordinarily employed for home illumination, for example a 60 watt bulb, we find that the degree of uniform illumination produced by the desk or table lamp, is several times that secured by means of the usual direct illumination with desk or table lamps of the kind heretofore employed, in which two of said 60 watt bulbs are used.

In Fig. 3 we show a modified form of container 11b in which a reflector 18h is disposed around a lamp bulb 19h, the container 11b being open at its upper end, and extended below the reflector 18h in the manner usual in table lamps, to itself constitute the base of the lamp. 1n this case, the shade 14h is supported from the upper edge of the container 11b by arms 23, so that the entire construction has much the same appearance as the usual construction of table lamps. The diffusing member 22'0 is supported by the shade 14h in substantially the relation and with substantially the results described above in connection4 with Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the reflector 18h is somewhat flatter vertically, than the reflector 18 illustrated in Fig. 2, which is advisable where it is desirable to spread the illumination somewhat, and where more nearly spherical lamp bulbs are employed.

As shown in Fig. 4, our invention may be effectively embodied in a wall fixture in which a base 10a is shown for attachment to a vertical wall, the base having extending therefrom a supporting arm 13a to which a shade 14e is secured. The shade supports a container llc by suitable arms 23e and the container 11e supports a reector 18e around a lamp bulb 19c in substantially the manner above described. The shade 14e supports a diffusing member 22e in substantially the manner above described, as a result of which diffused and substantially uniform illumination is produced by the wall fixture. In this connection it will be noticed, that the container llc may be of small extent vertically and have a rounded and closed lower end, permitting light projected by the diffusing member 22o to illuminate areas directly under the container 11e and thus produce illumination without the presence of a shadow from the container 11e. The base 10a may conveniently be provided with a switch 17o to control the operation of the lamp bulb 19c.

In Fig. 5, we illustrate a type of floor lamp involving our invention, consisting of a base 10b from which a column 24 extends vertically to support a horizontal arm 25 at a desired height, the arm 25 being rigidly secured to a tubular member 26 adjustable vertically on the coliunn24, and provided with a clamping screw 27 to hold the arm in any desired position vertically on the column 24. The arm 25 has mounted upon it a tubular member 28 to which a shade 14d is secured, the member 28 being provided with a clamping screw 29 to secure the member 28 in any desired position horizontally on the arm 25. The member 28 may, if desired, be provided with a switch 17d to control the operation of the lamp bulb used with the device. The shade 14d supv(il).

ports below it, a container 11d by arms 23d, and the container- 11dl supports within it a reector 18d and a lamp bulb 19d substantially as above described. The shade 14d supports a diffusing member 22d over the upper end of the container 11d in substantially the 'manner above described, and thus uniform diffused lighting results from the operation of the device substantially as and for the reasons above described. In this construction, the container 11d is illustrated as having a tapered conformation and converging downwardly which increases the effectiveness of illuminating the area below the container 11d.

It will be understood that the constructions shown and described in Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrative only and that they may be made in any proportions desired. In cases where it is desired to restrict the illumination to relatively small areas, the diffusing members 22o and 22d are made of larger diameter than the upper ends of the containers llc and 11d by only a sufficient amount to illuminate the small areas desired, and where larger areas of illumination are desired, the diffusing members 22e and 22d are made of still larger diameter.

It will be understood that the lamp bulb containers described above, may be made of any desired conformation both vertically and horizontally, that will contain the desired reflector and lamp bulb, and that the reflector employed may have any conformation both horizontally and vertically that will effectively direct the light from the lamp bulb employed, upwardly from the container. It will also be understood that the shades employed may be given a wide Variety of conformations, depending principally upon the artistic effect desired in any particular case and that it is immaterial whether they be curved or flat sided.

While we have above described the diffusing members as consisting of flat members, other forms of diffusing members may be used to advantage to meet the requirements of certaiin cases.

In Fig. 6, we illustrate a diffusing member 22e supported by a shade 14e, the diffusing member being conical in form and diverging upwardly. In this construction, the shade 14e supports a container 11e by arms 23e and the container 11e illustrated, is shallow vertically and of sufflcient size laterally to contain two or more lamp bulbs 19e. The reflector 18e is comparatively shallow to conform with the proportions of the container 11e and to spread the light reflected by it, outwardly on the lower surface of the dif.

fusing member 22e. This combined with the conical form of the diffusing member 22e, provides a structure adapted to uniformly illuminate a relatively large area with diffused light.

In Fig. 7, the shade 14f supports a diffusing member 22f above the upper open end of a container 11j by arms 231, the container llf in turn supporting within it a reflector 18j and a lamp bulb l9f. The diffusing member 22j is provided with a concave lower surface having a generally conical form, the curvature of the surface tending to more effectively direct light rays striking it from the reector 18j, outwardly from the member 221, than is the case with the diffusing member 22e illustrated in Fig. 6, a diffusing member of this form being well adapted for lighting large areas around and below the device.

In Fig. 8, we show a shade 14g supporting a diffusing member 22g and also supporting by arms 23a a container 11g which in turn contains and supports a. reflector 18g and a lamp bulb 19g. The diffusing member 22g consists of two conical portions, the inner portion being upwardly divergent and having the effect described in connection with Fig. 6, while the outer portion is upwardly convergent and effects substantially uniform illumination by diffused light o-f the area under the container 11g. In this manner, the diffusing member may be constructed to combine in any desired degree the illumination of the arear immediately under the device, and also areas aroundr the device.

In Fig. 9 we show a shade 14h supporting a diffusing member 22h and also by arms 23h, supporting a reflector 18h and a lamp bulb 19h. The diffusing member 22h is illustrated as having a curved and convex lower surface, which is a form of diffusing surface found to be effective in some cases for uniformly spreading the illumination effected by the device to illuminate relatively large areas. In this construction, the reilector 18h constitutes the container and support for the lamp bulb, and no additional container is used. Obviously, in others of the constructions, as desired, the reflector may constitute the container of the device.

In Fig. 10 we shown a shade 147' supporting a diffusing member 22j and also by arms 23j supporting a container 11g' which n turn contains and supports a reflector 18j and a lamp bulb 197. The lower surface of the diffusing member 227' is curved and concave, which is a form of diffusing member we find effective in cases where a restricted area of illumination is desired and particularly where it is desired to uniformly illuminate a restricted area immediately under the container 117.

While we have, for convenience, illustrated our invention as embodied in different types of hanging or pendant fixtures, and have referred to the diffused light from the diffusing members as being directed downwardly, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves to such constructions or operation, since our invention is equally effective in projecting the illuminating diffused light in any direction, particularly where the fixture is a unitary structure of the kind illustrated in Figs. 3 to 10 inclusive, in each of which structures, the shade is shown as rigidly secured to the container of the lamp bulb. For example, with the construction shown in Fig. 5, the shade and container may be secured to the arm 25 in any desired position, so that the axis of the shade and container, may be horizontal, oblique or vertical as desired, the resulting illumination being substantially the same in any case. In some cases, the shade may be dispensed with, if desired.

In Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive, the mounting and connecting of the lamp bulbs is not shown in detail, since any means well known in the art, may be employed for these purposes, as desired.

While we have shown our invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this exact construction as we may'employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What we claim is:

In a diffusing lamp, the combination of a supporting base with a reflector carried by said base and comprising a deep reflecting member having one open end and adapted to support a source disposed laterally with rea source of illumination in g an incandescent bulb, theillumination from said d of said reflector', a shade an opaque member disd of said reflector in o, a secondary reflector e open end of flector, said secon tallic member formed multiplicity of angularity and flector reiiects of view from spect to said reflector, said reflector compri Said reflector reflecting bulb out of the open en for said lamp comprising e the open en spaced relationV theret located between said shade and th said first-mentioned re reflector comprising a me with a surface presenting a minute areas of different spacing, area whereby said secondary re ROLAND W. BARLOW. SIDNEY (:Y HOFFMAN,y 

